Most everyone I have worked with is borderline or chronically dehydrated due to a gradual failing thirst signal. As we age, we basically dry out. Feeling thirsty is the last signal our bodies use to tell us we need to drink water. Many other signals will occur first: body aches and pains, headaches, fatigue, intestinal discomfort, and even depression are some symptoms of long-term dehydration.
If you do not drink enough water, your body will retain the water it does have. Kidney function can suffer and waste products can build up in the blood. Your liver is called upon to flush out impurities. If your liver is busy cleaning things up, it cannot burn fat (burning fat is one of its main functions). Fat buildup occurs, water is retained, and your body weight increases.
Staying hydrated allows your liver to work at its optimum performance. More water allows your body fat to be burned faster. Fat burning is a dehydrating process. Your body needs the extra water to keep the fat burning machine running at full speed.
Now, the next time you are going to eat, ask yourself . . . are you hungry? Or thirsty?
Most people are in the habit of heading for the kitchen as soon as they sense messages from their stomach that say, “I want something!” The next time you are hungry, try drinking water instead of eating. You may find that a drink of water will satisfy your hunger. If you are still hungry even after drinking the water, have something to eat. But first, put your hunger to the water test!
Extra Bonus:
You can maximize calorie burning by keeping the water cold. A gallon of ice-cold (40-degrees Fahrenheit) water requires 123 calories of heat energy to warm it to core body temperature (98.6 degrees). This equates to 1 pound of fat loss a month and 12 pounds in a year only from drinking ice water!
Superhydration Procedure:
Superhydration means working up to drinking at least 4 quarts of ice-cold water each day. Large amounts of water are important for efficient fat loss. Please do not make yourself miserable. Just make a conscious effort to drink more water between meals and just a little water during meals. You do not want to dilute the digestive juices in your stomach during a meal by consuming too much water. So, try to drink most of your water between meals and in the earlier part of the day.
Day 1-3
Consume 64 ounces (2 quarts)
Day 4-7
Consume 96 ounces (3 quarts)
Day 8- on
Consume 128 ounces (4 quarts)
Purchase an insulated, 32-ounce plastic container with a straw. Carry it with you throughout the day. Continuous sipping is more effective than gulping down a glass now and then. Understand that super hydration will initially cause you to visit the bathroom more often than normal. Soon, however, your bladder will adapt and you will urinate less frequently (but in larger amounts).
Caution: Don’t be surprised if you have to get a drink of water after reading this post. And you should! Water is your body’s most precious nutrient. It is not only essential for life, but also for efficient fat loss.